Green Flag Award!

For over twenty years, Holland Park has won the prestigious Green Flag Award. There are eight criteria for the judges to assess, so it is not only about stunning flower displays, but includes subjects like absence of litter, clear information displays, biodiversity, conservation of buildings and implementation of a management plan. That means there are a great many people in the RBKC Parks Management and idverde teams whose work in the park contributed to the award.

RBKC Park Officers, Hassan Elkholy and Bulent Kazim were responsible for hosting the judges and putting together the visit programme. So much had to be fitted into a visit of only three hours, that timing had to be precise to the minute. Head gardener, Owen Rogers showed off the formal gardens and much else. Dr Alice Laughton, RBKC head of the Ecology Service, covered biodiversity. Jennie Kettlewell, Chairman of The Friends, was invited to talk about community involvement, especially The Friends’ contribution. The judges looked attentively at everything, from hollyhocks to habitats, and from litterbins to loos. They asked lots of questions and clearly understood the complexity of our park. All the hard work paid off and Holland Park has a Green Flag once again.

Thank you to Parks Management, the Ecology Service, the Parks Police, the idverde gardeners, maintenance team and the front-line staff in the park reception office. 

Jennie Kettlewell

[September 2023]